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The 2012 Charlotte Bobcats are on the verge of having the worst winning percentage in NBA history. Their record stands at 7-58 for the season and tonight they try to avoid having the worst winning percentage ever when they face the New York Knicks. With a loss they would pass the 1972-1973 Philadelphia 76ers who currently stand at .110%.

Last night they faced the injury laden and controversial Orlando Magic and they still couldn’t win. The Magic went on a few huge runs, made some shots from behind the arc and the Bobcats were not able to get out a win. It sad to see a team lose so much and so badly but in the world of sports, this is sometimes a reality that many face. It’s good I’m not a coach, because I don’t even know what you would say to a team like this.

Now I don’t want to sit here and criticize the NBA but honestly, the Bobcats’ record just shows the lack of team that is present in the NBA right now. And this very “lack of team effort” is what so many criticize the NBA for on a regular basis. Don’t get me wrong, the NBA has some huge stars and incredible teams. But can you honestly sit here and tell me which team in the NBA is best without shouting out their stars? While stars are present in every sport, it is mostly the NBA that has these star powers who are constantly carrying their teams every night.

The Charlotte Bobcats do have some great star power but it has clearly not been enough. They are a fairly young team and it really just looks like they haven’t learned what playing like a team is about. I’m hoping that this season has been a big learning experience for them because I’m a huge Kemba Walker fan and I would like to see him do well. To quote Gerald Henderson last night, “Nobody in here is used to losing like we have lost this year, it just kind of humbles you and teaches you a lot about what it takes to be successful in this game. It also teaches you what it takes to have a good team in the NBA. It’s a learning process.” This team has a lot of young talent and maybe just maybe they will actually learn from this.

So here’s the thing, it really doesn’t make a difference to me if they win or lose tonight because I think the bigger issue is what this means for the NBA. When teams reach incredible lows like this there are tons of questions that go throughout the mind of fans. We have seen teams in the NFL, MLB, and NHL with tough losing records but none really stand out as much as the losing records that occur in the NBA.

The biggest issue here is the lack of team play in the NBA. I don’t want to sit here and continue to criticize the NBA because I do like sports and I enjoy the NBA playoffs. But the Bobcats really go to show the bigger issue here. Many people, don’t support the NBA because there is such a lack of team. Charlotte is just another example of the NBA’s problem. Lack of team play. Maybe their lack of success will force NBA players to look into the team effort. There are always going to be the star players, but maybe these stars will step up and raise the perception of their team and the overall NBA.

Regardless of the outcome of tonight’s game, the Bobcats have a staunch task ahead of them for next season. They have the best chance for the #1 pick in the draft and can therefore draft the #1 player entering the draft, Anthony Davis (Kentucky). The biggest question then is will Davis be able to help them play as a team? One thing Davis has is the understanding of team basketball that was played at Kentucky. However, his star power coupled with the already existing players of the Bobcats doesn’t necessarily mean they will be automatically good. They need to play as a team before they can be successful.

The NBA is currently about success and money, all sports are, but they are the prime example. The Miami Heat and LA Lakers are examples of successful teams who do so with their star power. Its specifically because of the lack of team present in the NBA, that I rooted for the Mavericks last year.

It is said, “there is no I in team,” an idea that the NBA sometimes fails to recognize. I don’t have an answer to this problem that the NBA faces but I just want it to be known that another sports fan thinks something needs to change. NBA, let the Bobcats be your wake-up call.